Justin Addo gets Black List Award nomination for working to get Ghana-Nigeria match played after initial cancellation

Justin Addo, a Ghanaian football agent residing in West London, has been nominated for the UK’s prestigious African and Caribbean community award for excellence in football, the Black List Awards.

Justin Addo who is a FIFA and UEFA accredited match agent has been nominated for his determination to get a friendly match between Ghana and Nigeria played after the match, originally scheduled for August 9, 2011 following riots in London.

Following the cancellation, Mr. Addo, organiser of the match, lost hundreds of thousands of pounds but he has gone on to work hard to get a new date for the match to be played.

Subsequently, the match has been fixed for October 11, 2011.

The occasion, the organiser writes on its website, recognises the contribution of the black community for achievements across all levels of football and is supported by the Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, Kick It Out and the Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS), and Horizon with The Voice Newspaper as a media partner.

It was founded by journalist Leon Mann and Voice sports editor Rodney Hinds in 2008, the initiative has fast become an indicator of the British African Caribbean community’s progress in the game, it adds.

The categories at the awards according to the organisers, will be media, commercial, administration, community and coaching/management.

There will also be awards for off-the-pitch, grassroots and the Keith Alexander award.

This is how  Justin Addo was described on the organisers’ website:”The West London based match agent is one of the most hard working men in the business. He was resolute in the face of adversity when the recent London riots meant the Ghana v Nigeria match at Watford FC was called off – costing him thousands. The game was rescheduled as a result of his determination and ambition.

“I am really humbled and thank the organizers for nominating me,” Mr. Addo told ghanabusinessnews.com by email.

The other Ghanaian on the list is Dentaa, the personal manager of Asamoah Gyan and also the founder of the highly successful GUBA Awards.

This year’s awards presentation will be held at the offices of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games & Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) in Canary Wharf on October 26.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi